Davie residents fly on vintage plane with 'Miracle on the Hudson' pilots

Flying in a vintage 1958 DC-7B passenger plane with Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, the "Miracle on the Hudson" pilots, is a unique opportunity.

Jordan Krajsa and his father, George, of Davie, got to fly with them on a flight to Charlotte to the Carolinas Aviation Museum, where the fateful US Airways Flight 1549 aircraft is now housed.

"It was an experience of a lifetime," said Jordan, a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale. "It was an honor to meet Sullenberger and Skiles. It was a nonstop day, eventful, nonstop action. I presented them all with St. Thomas hats on behalf of the [school's] aviation club."

Jordan's passion led him to start the aviation club at St. Thomas about a year ago. The club, which has 30 student members, covers all aspects of aviation, including the different careers. The club also goes on field trips and has guest speakers from the field.

"They couldn't believe that I was going to be flying with such a hero in the aviation field. They were very excited for me and couldn't wait [for me] to personally tell them all about it," Jordan said.

The flight was made possible through the Historical Flight Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting an awareness of and appreciation for aviation history and owns the historic DC-7B.

The foundation raises money by flying the airplane. Money raised from the flights, which leave out of the Opa-Locka airport in Miami-Dade, go toward preservation of the plane, said Roger Jarman, foundation president.

"The DC-7B is seen in [the television show] 'Pan Am.' It's the last DC- 7B passenger plane flying in the world," Jarman said.

There are three DC 7s that may be flying in the world, but the other two fly infrequently, he said. Some amenities of the DC-7B included buffet breakfasts and lunches and a chance to visit the cockpit, Jarman said.

"The flying used to be elegant," he said. "It's such a wonderful thing to see people come and enjoy this airplane. They simply cannot stop talking about it."

The recent flight to Charlotte with Sullenberger and Skiles, which had 44 passengers, made about $6,000, he said. That money will come in handy because during the return flight from Charlotte, there was an engine malfunction, leaving the plane inoperable there.

Jarman is not sure when the plane will be running flights again, but it will be several months before it is back at Opa-Locka.

"Sully and Jeff told us to keep them informed of what we are doing next because they want to stay involved with us," Jarman said.

For more information, visit http://www.historicalflightfoundation.com.